Flower Blog
Archive - March 2008

The Flower Expert welcomes the flower enthusiasts to the special feature - Flower Blogs where the flower lovers can share the knowledge about flowers and flower related topics with the flower admiring community world-wide.

Post your comments on anything related to Flowers & Floral Industry. You can create a blog instantly without the hassle of username and password. And you can also view our monthly .

Empowering Women Worldwide with Fair Trade certification

I was browing for the flower growers worldwide. I stumbled across a flower grower site caring for the women employees. That made me go browse through the whole site (Fair Trade Certified Flowers) with a lot of difference compared to the other growers.

Women are given good wages, maternity leaves etc which are making them self sufficient in their life. Over 90% of gift flowers in the US are given to women. In addition to fair wages, Fair Trade certification requires the farms provide employee benefits including 12 weeks paid marternity leave and childcare. In response to the required guidelines, some Fair Trade Certified flower farms have given many supervisory positions to women, which represents an enormous shift. For every purchase of Fair Trade Certified flowers, women worldwide have the opportunity to equal access of employment.

Spring flowering plants blooming in spring

We know that Spring flowering bulbs are planted in the fall. Spring bulbs require a freeze and period of dormancy -- when the spring comes, they will be among the first to bloom and provide early season color in a garden.

Flowers and Seasons are mutually related greatly. Among the seasons, Spring flowers bloom very beautifully. The Spring season consists of 4 months, from march to June. The flowers growing in these months also differ from the rest of the months.

Spring pests and diseases -

Spring is the time for beautiful blooms. Spring Season enhances the beauty of the gardens and parks, or for that matter lawns in the houses.

But there are some things, waiting to play the spoil sport. They are the pests and diseases of the season. As a Spring blooms lover, I wanted to know the common pests and diseases effect their existence. Let me share the knowledge with the spring lovers.

The common garden pests and diseases that can occur in spring.

8. GREY MOULD : If stems and flowers go mouldy, especially in damp weather, they could have this disease, also known as botrytis. Apply a systematic fungicide, repeating as necessary.

9. LEAF MINERS : The grubs of this pest will tunnel inside the leaves of chrysanthemums, rhododendrons and lilacs, leaving unsightly white tracks. Spray with hexyl, HCH or malathion.

10. SCAB : Pyracantha and crab apples are attacked by scab, which shows as brown spots on leaves and rough lesions on twigs. Spray from early spring onwards with a systematic fungicide.

11. SILVER LEAF : This fungal infection gives the leaves of trees a silvery sheen, and they will split and turn brown. Affected branches turn brown and die back. Cut them out completely and burn them.

12. SLUGS AND SNAILS : Perhaps the most common of garden pests, these gastrapods cause great damage to flowers and foliage. There are slug pellets that are non-injurious to other wildlife and liquid slug killers on the market. Alternatively you can trap them in jars of beer sunk to their rims in the soil.

13. WIREWORMS :These aptly named creatures they look like pieces of wire and are almost as tough damage the roots of most flowering plants, particularly carnations and chrysanthemums. They can be controlled by dusting the soil with HCH, but perhaps the best and most natural way is to dig over the soil and expose them for birds to eat.

14. WOODLICE : These grey, flat, oval-bodied creatures may feed on stems, leaves and roots, but rarely do real damage. Regular cultivation and keeping the garden clear of plant debris will get rid of them as they hate disturbance and light.

15. WOOLY APHIDS : Cotoneaster, pyracantha and ornamental crab apples are among the shrubs and trees at risk from these aphids, easily recognised by their white woolly tufts. They puncture stems and suck the sap, and also damage the bark which splits and later becomes infected with diseases such as canker. Get rid of the insects by painting the colonies with methylated spirits.

Spring pests and diseases

Spring is the time for beautiful blooms. Spring Season enhances the beauty of the gardens and parks, or for that matter lawns in the houses.

But there are some things, waiting to play the spoil sport. They are the pests and diseases of the season. As a Spring blooms lover, I wanted to know the common pests and diseases effect their existence. Let me share the knowledge with the spring lovers.

The common garden pests and diseases that can occur in spring.

Spring pests and diseases

1. BLACK SPOT : Roses, particularly those which require heavy pruning for instance, modern roses are prone to this fungal disease, which appears as black spots on the leaves. Regular fortnightly sprays of triforine or propicanizole from March to October will protect them.

2. CABBAGE ROOT FLIES : These pests are not confined to vegetables; they will also attack stocks and wallflowers. The tiny white maggots eat the roots, causing leaves to wilt and turn a bluish colour. Before planting, dust the holes with a soil insecticide or, if plants are already in, apply it to the immediately around the plants before mid-spring.

3. CHAFER GRUBS : Bulbs, tubers and fleshy roots are attacked by these 1 ÃÂ½ in long, brown-headed, white grubs. Use HCH powder or bromophos dust raked into the soil around the plants.

4. CRANEFLIES : the larvae, called leather jackets, of the crane fly, popularly named daddy-long-legs, eat roots and the base of stems of many plants. They are 2in long, grey-brown, plump and tough-skinned. Keep them in check by dusting the soil with HCH.

5. FIREBLIGHT : Many members of the rosaceous family, such as cotoneaster and pyracantha, are prone to this disease. Leaves and flowers die and turn dark brown, as though scorched. As it is very infectious, affected plants must be destroyed and the local Ministry of Agriculture office notified.

6. FLEA BEETLES : When the leaves of plants such as wallflowers, stocks and alyssum become pitted with small holes, these striped beetles, about ?in long, are the likely culprits. Keep them at bay by dusting plants with derris powder or HCH at an early stage of growth.

7. FROGHOPPERS : The white froth commonly known as cuckoo spit covers the immature froghoppers while they feed on young growth. Apply a strong water jet from a hand sprayer to dislodge them, but if they persist, spray with malathion or fenitrothion.

Spring Anuuals and Perennials

Spring Annuals and Perennials. What do they really mean?

An Annual is a plant that completes its entire life cycle within one year is called an annual.

Popular spring-planted annuals are impatiens, pansies, petunias, begonias, geraniums and marigolds. Most flowers referred to as annuals are those we plant after the last frost in the spring, and live until the frost kills them in fall. This might seem like a short life, but on the upside, annuals bloom continuously, so although itÃ¢??s a short life, itÃ¢??s a good one!

A Perennial lives and flower year after year.

A Perennial plant typically, die back (or hibernate) over the winter, but grow and flower as temperatures rise in spring. Most perennials bloom during a certain time of the season- varying from spring to fall. Some perennials like Shasta daisies love sun, whereas Astilbes, Ferns, and Hostas like shade, and Lamium prefers partial shade.

Spring Flowers of UK

Spring flowers are the first flowers to arise. They are fragrant and incredible. The Wild Spring flowers are incredible. Soon after the frost disappears, there's a series of Spring flowers arising from the Mother Earth.

Spring Flowers decorate the surroundings like the beds and make the atmosphere heavenly. Some of the Spring Flowers of UK are Hawthorn and blackthorn, dandelions and primroses, Celandines, to name a few.

Nowadays, the flowers of spring interest us for another reason,as they arrive earlier every year.

Primrose:

The primrose is traditionally the first flower of spring. It is the prima rosa, the first "rose", but you can also read this as the prime flower, the most important wild flower of all. Do you know, Why? why because it blooms up after a long dark winter with its creamy-yellow posies nestling like eggs in those delightful crimped leaves. Everyone loves a primrose. A true primrose, that is. The Primroses we see on roadsides are a genetic mishmash of primroses and polyanthus.

Spring Flower Show in UK

As I was searching for Spring flower shows. I stumbled upon the site which was UK's gardening show season. Its going to start from Arpil 24 th - 27 th April of 2008.

The event is, 2008 Harrogate Spring Flower Show. The Harrogate Spring Flower Show is regarded by many as the start of the UK's gardening show season. Be sure to be there and enjoy the invaluable flower show. 2008 Harrogate Spring Flower Show.

Apart from being a flower show, it also helps diasable persons to enjoy the show and
get inspired from the flowers.

Women's Day

Ocassions in Spring - International Women's Day

The Onset of Spring Season brings in the festive Occassions throughout the world. One of them is International Women's Day. It is celebrated throughout the world on every year on March 8 th, the begining of Spring Season

The history of International Women's Day is a history of taking action. The event originated in 1908 when women garment makers in New York demonstrated to demand better working conditions. They worked in appalling conditions, earned half of men's wages, died prematurely from poor health and didn't have the right to vote.

In 1910 an international conference of women resolved that each year a day should be set aside to press for women's demands. Since then International Women's Day (IWD) has been celebrated around the world each year on March 8. From its inception International Women's Day has stood for equality between women and men.

Send some gorgeous, beautiful flowers for your most loved and inspiring woman in your life. I sent favourite gorgeous Gerberas for my sister living in Boston from pickupflowers.com.

Weather Effecting Pollen in Spring

In one of the sites, I came across the information about the weather affecting the increase or decrease in the production of pollen in the areas.

There are many affects the spring season brings in the surroundings. Weather can directly affect the spring pollen season, increasing allergy symptoms.

How Weather Affects Allergies

Certain weather conditions can either increase or decrease the production of pollen, from both tree and grass sources. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), there are several weather factors that affect pollen allergy severity.

Mild winter: A mild winter can mean an early start to the allergy season, as trees tend to pollinate earlier. Pollen counts can increase with a mild winter, and intensify during a mild spring.

Some severe weather events can have an effect on pollen seasons. Although the pollen season for a location may be the same year to year, it can be affected by weather. El Nino conditions producing warmer, wetter weather can represent an early spring. Severe El Nino conditions, such as during the 1998-99 season, can produce earlier tree pollination and higher pollen counts.

Allergy Season Forecasts

Forecasts for the pollen allergy season can be difficult to determine. Analyzing winter weather conditions, specifically freeze dates, can be a useful way to determine the severity of the allergy season. However, as weather forecasts change and future weather trends are almost impossible to forecast, allergy season forecasts can be hard to accurately predict. Relying on past weather data and current pollen counts is the best way to determine an allergy forecast.

Pollen Counts by National Allergy Bureau.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) uses pollen counts taken across the United States to determine spring allergy season severity. A pollen count is used to measure the amount of airborne allergens present in the air (AAAAI, 2008). Using these pollen and spore counts from air samples at the stations, the AAAAI National Allergy Bureau (NAB) can provide accurate current pollen and mold counts for allergy sufferers, for many locations. Counts are available online for five US regions and Canada.

Weather Affects Pollen Counts

In addition to impacting the allergy season, weather elements can also affect the pollen count. Several factors affecting the pollen count include, Soil temperature, Number of day above 55 degree F, Duration of freezing temperatures during winter, Moisture levels, or humidity.

Spring Season In USA

After this severe winter in USA, I eagerly wait for the spring season to commence from March 21 st. I really love this season as the flowers and trees are in full bloom and look their fullest. Let's see the flowers which wait to bloom in Spring, and the best places to see the onset of Spring.

Spring Season in USA:

In USA, spring starts on 21st of March, each year, bringing joy to flowers, trees and to our eyes since the earth is covered fully with lush green plants bearing beautiful flowers. Its the season of growth for the plants during when the plants and trees wake up from their long cold winter sleep and showing their joy with colors. Its wonderful to see them bloom with colorful flowers.

Tulips are gorgeous, stunning flowers, sometimes its hard to believe that these are real flowers, which often reminds you of spring season. They bloom in all bright colors and you can see them everywhere almost in front of all the apartment buildings, gardens, parks etc.

Tulips grow from their bulbs and often planted in rows not just a single plant making them look like a bed of tulip flowers during their blooming season.

Tulip bulbs are planted during December each year and are planted in large quantities of bulbs in beds and borders. After the blooming, the tulip bulbs are removed from the soil and stored for next year's spring.

Apart from these Tulips, other flowers commonly found during spring are Dogwood trees, Daffodils, Hyacinths etc.

Tree lovers are expected to see their love lots in these places. The best places to watch and enjoy these spring blooms are Botanical Gardens, Arboretums and Parks. These places would normally collect a small fee or none for the entry. It is breathtaking to see the several kinds of trees, shrubs, flowers and plants in one place like the above said. So, its worth visiting these places especially during spring.